Wagering game with 3D rendering of a mechanical device

Abstract

A stand-alone or server-linked gaming terminal that displays on a plasma display in the top-box area a 3D-rendered mechanical device that is pre-rendered or rendered in real time using a 3D-graphics processor or the like. The 3D-rendered mechanical device depicts the game outcome or a bonus game displayed in the top box display. The images or animation representing the 3D-rendered mechanical device may be stored on a digital video recorder (DVR) within the gaming terminal or downloaded remotely from a storage device coupled to the gaming terminal. The DVR outputs the mechanical device images as analog video, and is capable of receiving analog video input, converting the analog video to a digital format such as MPEG, and storing the converted video on a storage media. Additional structural elements such as a frame may be arranged about the top-box display to add depth or dimensionality to the 3D-rendered images displayed thereon.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is related to (1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 657,650, filed Sep. 8, 2003, titled Gaming Machine Performing Real-Time 3d Rendering Of Gaming Events, which is a conventional of U.S. Application No. 60 / 410,039, filed Sep. 12, 2002 (Attorney Docket No. 47079-00134USPT), (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 400,239, filed Mar. 27, 2003, titled “Gaming Machine Having A 3D Display” (Attorney Docket No. 47079-00151USPT), and (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 401,246, filed Sep. 27, 2003, titled “Gaming Machine Having A Persistence-Of-Vision Display” (Attorney Docket No. 47079-00184USPT), each of which is incorporated herein and made a part hereof by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to wagering games and, more particularly, to a wagering game having a secondary display that displays a 3D-rendered mechanical device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Gaming machines, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] According to a method of displaying a 3D-rendered image of a mechanical device on a gaming apparatus, at least one randomly selected outcome is selected from a multiple outcomes in response to receiving wager inputs from a player. A 3D-representation of a mechanical device is rendered to form at least one 3D-rendered image of the mechanical device. The 3D-rendered image is displayed on a display located in the top box area of the gaming apparatus. The following additional acts or steps may be performed in any order and in any combination with other ac

Problems solved by technology

A drawback of incorporating a mechanical device in the top box area is that the device cannot be easily changed or replaced if it becomes obsolete or damaged.

In addition, mechanical devices wear out and eventually break or require labor-intensive servicing or replacement.

However, they are desirable because mechanical devices obey mechanical rules and laws of physics, which creates the illusion of uninfluenced randomness (even though the actual game outcome is calculated in advance by a random number generator).

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